Vibrating sorter for soiled tableware

ABSTRACT

A CONSTRUCTION FOR HANDLING SOILED TABLEWARE SO THAT THE TABLEWARE CAN BE AUTOMATICALLY SORTED PRIOR TO PLACEMENT INTO HOLDERS USED FOR SUPPORTING THE TABLEWARE AS IT PASSES THROUGH A DISHWASHING MACHINE. A VIBRATING CONVEYOR IS PROVIDED FOR RECEIVING THE TABLE ARE, AND A BARRIER EXTENDS ACROSS THE CONVEYOR BED TO SEPARATE FLATWARE COMPRISING PLATE AND SILVERWARE FROM PIECES OF GREATER HEIGHT SUCH AS CUPS AND GLASSES. THE SEPARATED TABLEWARE IS DELIVERED ALONG SEPARATE PATHS TO THE END OF THE VIBRATING BED FOR PLACEMENT IN APPROPRIATE RACKS OR OTHER DISHWASHING EQUIPMENT HOLDING MEANS. THE FLATWARE IS DIVIDED BY PROVIDING SLOTS IN A CORRUGATED SECTION OF THE BED SO THAT THE SILVERWARE IS COLLECTED APART FROM PLATES. MEANS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR SEPARATING SOILED DISHES FROM CAFETERIA TRAYS WHERE THE DISHES ARE INITIALLY DELIVERED ON SUCH TRAYS.

Sept. 20, 1971 R. ETTLINGER, JR, Erm. 3,605,767

VIBRATING SORTER FOR SOILED TABLEWARE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 28.1969 Sept. 20, 1971 R. ETTLNGER, JR.. ErAL 3,605,767

VIBRATING SORTER FOR SOILED TABLEWARE Filed May 2s. 195s 4 sneetssheet 2Sept. 20,J 1971 R. ETTLINGER, JR., ETAL 3,605,761

VIBRATING SORTER FOR SOILED TABLEWARE Filed May 28. 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet3 s#PL 20 1971 R. ETTLINGER, JR.. ETAI- 3.605.767

VIBRATING SORTER FOR SOILED TABLEWARE Filed May 28. 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet4 United States Patent ce Int. Cl. B081) 3/04 U. S. Cl. 134-62 15 ClaimsABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A construction for handling soiled tablewareso that the tableware can be automatically sorted prior to placementinto holders used for supporting the tableware as it passes through adishwashing machine. A vibrating conveyor is provided for receiving thetableware, and a barrier extends across the conveyor bed to separateflatware comprising plates and silverware from pieces of greater heightsuch as cups and glasses. The separated tableware is delivered alongseparate paths to the end of the vibrating bed for placement inappropriate racks or other dishwashing equipment holding means. Theflatware is divided by providing slots in a corrugated section of thebed so that the silverware is collected apart from plates. Means arealso provided for separating soiled dishes from cafeteria trays wherethe dishes are initially delivered on such trays.

This invention relates to a construction for the handling of soiledtableware prior to placement of the tableware in dishwashing equipment.

It is well-known that many institutions, for example, schools andrestaurants, handle large volumes of tableware in providing foodservice. A typical arrangement involves cafeteria style service whereinpersons place tableware including plates, saucers, cups, glasses andsilverware on a cafeteria tray. When the meal is nished, these must becollected in some fashion and prepared for washing.

It is normal practice to separate and then stack or otherwise collectthe various types of tableware. For example, employees will formseparate stacks of cafeteria trays, plates, saucers, cups, etc., and thesame or other personnel will load the stacked pieces onto racks used inautomatic dishwashing equipment or directly onto conveyors provided inthe equipment. This, of course, involves a separate unstacking operationfor articles such as plates, bowls, dishes and saucers.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a system for thehandling of soiled tableware, whereby the tableware can be conveyed inrandom fashion to the separating equipment and thereafter automaticallyseparated so that the only handling involved is the loading of cups andglasses into washing racks and placing said racks and silverware, whichhas been automatically placed in .washing cylinders, into thedishwashing machine.

It is a specic object ofthis invention to provide a system for handlingsoiled tableware which is particularly useful in connection withcafeteria operations whereby Vsoiled silverware whereby the silverwarecan be automatically delivered to baskets for immediate transfer of thebrackets to dishwashing equipment without other handling requirements.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter, andfor purposes of illustration, but not of 3,605,767 Patented Sept. 20,1971 limitation, specific embodiments of the invention are shown in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a plan View of a tableware handling system characterized bythe features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement providing an in-linestructure for delivery of tableware to a vibrating conveyor;

FIG. 3 s an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating an alternativearrangement for the separation of tableware from cafeteria trays;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken about the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation illustrating the trayand tableware separation means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vibrating bed illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, taken about the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken about the line 9 9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional View of a silverware handling unitcharacterized by the features of this invention;

FIG. l1 is a plan View illustrating the vibrating conveyor section ofFIG. 10; and,

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional vie-w, taken about the line 12-12 of FIG.10.

The construction of this invention generally comprises a vibratingconveyor defining a bed for receiving tableware. The tableware isdeposited on the bed in random fashion and is then separated intoflatware such as plates and silverware and into pieces of greater heightsuch as cups and glasses. This separation is accomplished by barriermeans which are located in spaced relationship relative to t-he conveyorbed to permit passage of the ilatware while directing cups and glassesalong a separate path on the bed.

At the end of the conveyor bed, the flatware is separated by providingmeans permitting passage of silver- -ware through the bed while platesand other flatware are deposited at the end of the conveyor. Dishwashingracks Iwhich can be loaded into dishwashing equipment or which areprovided by the equipment itself are preferably situated at the end ofthe vibrating conveyor so that the separated pieces can be immediatelyplaced in a dishwasher.

Where the construction isemployed in a careteria operation, means areprovided for separating tableware from cafeteria trays. This isaccomplished automatically by dumping the trays in a manner such thatall tableware is removed and deposited on the vibrating conveyor bedwhile the trays are directed to a separate washing station.

The construction illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises one form of the instantinvention. This construction is particularly suitable for cafeteria-typearrangements, and a rst conveyor 10 is employed for delivering trays 12from the dining area to the dishwashing area. As will be explained, thesystem to be described initially provides for separation of soiledtableware from the trays. Accordingly, a gap 14 is provided between theconveyor 10 and a separate conveyor 16 so that any single items oftableware will drop through the gap whereby only trays will move ontothe conveyor 16.

A light trash removal station 15 is located beyond the gap 16. Thisremoval may be effected by air blasts which will dislodge napkins, milkcartons, etc. The next station 17 is provided for removal of trays whichare stacked together. These trays may be manually or automaticallyremoved at this point if the tray dumping means will not handle two ormore trays stacked together.

At the end f the conveyor 16, there is provided a first downwardlyinclined stationary board 18 (also see FIG. 6). The trays 12 are movedonto the board 18, and the leading edge of each tray then engages theend wall 20 of a second downwardly inclined board 22. The momentum ofthe tableware causes the tableware on the trays to -be discharged ontothe surface of the board 22. This tableware slides down the board underthe inuence of gravity and is eventually deposited on the bed 24 ofvibrating conveyor 26. A brush 28 extends across the end of the yboard22 to retard the movement of the tableware, particularly if relativelyfragile dishes are being handled.

When a tray is located on the surface of the board 18 in the solid lineposition shown in FIG. 6, the next tray will engage the end of theinclined tray and tilt the tray as shown in dotted lines. A downwardlyextending channel 30 is provided for delivering the empty trays to aseparate conveyor 32. The trays can then be separately directed pasttray washer sprays as shown at 33 and tray dryer and stacker stations.

The soiled tableware deposited on the vibrating conveyor bed 24 is movedfrom left to right along the conveyor bed. To provide initial sorting ofthe tableware, a barrier 34 extends across a portion of the conveyorbed. This barrier deines a bottom edge 36 which is spaced from the bed24 by a suicient distance to permit the passage of atware, includingplates and silverware. Articles of greater height such as cups andglasses are restrained by the barrier, and are diverted along a separatepath. This path is dened by an interior wall 38 running parallel to oneside Wall y40 of the vibrating conveyor.

As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, the bed 24 may include an inclinedend 23 to insure movement of the tableware along the initial portion ofthe conveyor. Water streams may be applied in this area as a prewash. Aseparating barrier such as the barrier 34 may be located in this areasince the velocity of the tableware will enhance separation.

plane as the conveyor bed 24. The depressions dened between the ridgesare adapted to receive silverware as it moves to the end of the conveyorbed. Plates and other atware will, however, move over the top of theridges and are finally deposited on the inclined end member 56 wherethey are collected by the moving bed 58 of the dishwasher.

The silverware passes through slots 60 defined between the ridges 54. Achute 62 directs the silverware into individual baskets 64 which areheld in an inclined position for automatic lling. A trough 66 may befilled with water or other liquid for pre-soaking of the silverware;however, in any case, the baskets 64 can then be manually loaded in adishwashing machine.

Nozzles 70 are provided in the opposite side wall 72 of the vibratingconveyor for introducing water. A sump 74 is provided adjacent the entryend of the conveyor whereby the water is moved in a direction oppositethe movement of the soiled tableware. This arrangement is a means forremoving some food particles and other garbage, particularly any piecesthat iioat. A suitable garbage skimmer may be utilized to remove suchpieces from the surface of the water to avoid the necessity forseparating these pieces from the tableware at the end of the conveyor.

FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement employing the same vibrating conveyorconstruction as that shown in FIG. 1. In this instance, however, anin-line system is provided for delivering the soiled tableware to thevibrating conveyor 26. This system includes a separate conveyor 16', afirst downwardly directed support 18', a tray drop chute 30', a seconddownwardly directed support 22', and retarder brush 28'. The systemoperates in the same manner as the system described in FIGS. l and 6.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a further alternative for separatingcafeteria trays from soiled tableware and for transferring the tablewareto a vibrating conveyor 26. In this instance, a separate belt conveyormoves the loaded trays into contact with a deector bar 82 which extendsat an angle across the end of the belt. This deflector forces the loadedtrays sideways onto an inclined platform 84. A ledge 86 is formedadjacent the bottom edge of the platform so that the trays arerestrained against movement onto the conveyor 26. The soiled dishes willtumble onto the conveyor when the trays are in this inclined position. Aretarder brush 88 is employed where there is a need to protect thetableware against damage. The platform 84 gradually tapers toward narrowend 89, and this causes the trays to fall back to an original positionwhen the inside edges of the trays move past the dellector 82. The trayscan then be passed by means of a separate conveyor to appropriatecleaning and drying apparatus.

FIGS. 10, i1 and 12 illustrate a silverware handling mechanism 90 whichincorporates features similar to those utilized in the end section ofthe vibrating conveyor 26. Thus, the trough 92 is provided with a bedformed of depressions 94 and ridges 96. This combination is provided bycorrugating the bottom wall of the trough; however, ridges can bebuilt-in, for example, as shown in FIG. 8. The trough is supported on astandard vibrator 98, and the vibrating mechanism is such that thesilverware will move from right to left over the bed.

When silverware is loaded in the right-hand end of the construction, thevibrating action will move the silverware toward the discharge end whichis provided with slots 100. A rotating brush 102 may be located adjacentthe loading end to assist in maintaining the silverware in thedepressions 94. Thus, use of a brush, fingers, or similar means willreduce the possibility of silverware piling up if an excessive load isplaced in the construction.

The silverware is adapted to be discharged through the slots through achute 104 and then into collecting basket 106. This basket is located ina trough 108 which may be filled with water 110 to provide a pre-soak,and the basket is suitable for loading in automatic dishwashingequipment.

Particularly where soiled silverware is being handled, the working endsof the silverware should be exposed at the top of the basket 106 withthe handles at the bottom. This provides for more effective cleaning inautomatic dishwashing equipment. To accomplish this, the slots 100 aredimensioned so that only the handles of the silverware can pass throughthe slots when the silverware lies iiat in the depressions 94.Considering, for example, the spoon shown at the top of FIG. 11, thevibrating action will move the working end of the spoon across the slot100; however, the handle of the spoon will fall through when it becomesfree of contact with the bottom of the depression. Since the working endof the spoon is wider than the slot in one position, it may hangtemporarily as shown in FIG. 10; however, the vibrating ac tion willsoon turn the spoon sufficiently to cause it to drop onto the chute 104.With this arrangement, the working ends of the silverware will enter thebasket in the upright position.

It will be appreciated that the same arrangement for controlling theposition of the silverware is preferred for the section 52 of theconveyor 26. In a typical operation, the conveyor 10, 16 may deliver1000 18-inch cafeteria trays per hour to the sorting construction. Asnoted, light gar-bage may be removed by blow-off means; however, suctiondevices could also be employed for this purpose.

The presence of water in the vibrating conveyor trough will function tocushion the impact of tableware on the conveyor bed. In addition to thepre-washing function already referred to, the water will also serve toreduce noise. Finally, suitable openings may be provided whereby thewater can be induced or forced out along with additional pieces ofgarbage. A garbage skimmer, for example, in the form of an arm sweepingover the water surface (FIG. l) may be provided to remove any floatingpieces. Any garbage which is not automatically removed by the meansdescribed can be manually separated adjacent the discharge end of theconstruction. The amount of such garbage is extremely small comparedwith conventional operations.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may `bemade in the construction described which provide the characteristics ofthis invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly asdefined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A construction for handling soiled tableware to provide for sortingof different types of tableware and for delivery of the sorted tablewareto dishwashing equipment, said construction comprising a vibratingconveyor having a loading end and defining a bed for receiving thetableware, at least one sorting member extending across the bed forengaging a portion of the tableware and for directing this portion alonga specific path defined by the bed, said bed defining an upwardlyinclined tableware supporting surface and side walls at least at saidloading end to provide a well, `water delivery and circulating meansassociated with the construction at said loading end to provide a flowof water over said bed and to maintain water in said well for contactIwith the tableware loaded on the bed, and means adjacent the dischargeend of the conveyor for receiving different types of tableware sorted bythe construction.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sorting membercomprises a barrier extending across said bed, said barrier defining alower edge located in spaced relationship with said bed to permit aportion of the tableware to move beneath the barrier, and wherein aseparate portion of the tableware engages the barrier to restrainmovement along the bed.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said barrierextends at an angle across the bed, and wherein the portion of tablewarerestrained by the barrier is directed along a line defined by thebarrier to a side portion of the bed, and including a lwall separatingsaid side portion from the main bed portion to keep the tablewareportions separated from each other.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1, including a separateconveyor for delivering tableware to said vibrating conveyor, and a trayseparation means located between said conveyors for separating tablewarefrom cafeteria-type trays so that the trays are not moved onto thevibrating conveyor.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tableware onsaid vibrating conveyor is separated into two portions, one of saidportions comprising flatware such as dishes and saucers, and silverware,and including means for separating the flatware from the silverwareadjacent the end of the vibrating conveyor.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 5, wherein said vibratingconveyor includes a slotted end portion, and upstanding ribs extendinglongitudinally along the bed in said end portion, said fiatware beingadapted to move over the bed in contact with said ribs while saidsilverware falls into the gaps defined between the ribs and then throughsaid slots for collection in containers for holding the silverware inthe dishwashing equipment.

7. A construction for handling soiled tableware loaded on trays toprovide for sorting of different types of tableware and for delivery ofthe sorted tableware to dishwashing equipment, said constructioncomprising a vibrating conveyor defining a bed for receiving thetableware, a separate conveyor for carrying said trays and for therebydelivering tableware to the vicinity of said vibrating conveyor, and atray separation means located between said conveyors for separatingtableware from the trays so that the trays are not moved onto thevibrating conveyor, said tray separating means comprising a firstdownwardly inclined surface at the discharge end of said separateconveyor, an opening for receiving the trays defined at the end of saidfirst downwardly inclined surface, a second downwardly inclined surfaceon the opposite side of said opening, said second surface being locatedin a plane above said first surface, and abutment means located adjacentthe front edge of said second surface for engaging the leading edge of atray located on said first surface, and wherein said abutment meansholds the tray so that the trailing edge of the tray will be engaged bythe following tray on said separate conveyor whereby the following trayoperates to tilt the tray on said first surface upwardly for movement ofthe trays through said opening between the first and second surfaces,and wherein tableware located on a tray is transferred by momentum ontosaid second surface when the leading edge of a tray engages saidabutment means, at least one sorting member extending across thevibrating conveyor bed for engaging a portion of the tableware and fordirecting this portion along a specific path defined by the bed, waterdelivery and circulating means associated with the construction toprovide a flow of water over said bed for contact with the tableware,and means adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor for receivingdifferent types of tableware.

8. A construction in accordance with claim 7, including retarding meansadjacent the end of said second surface to reduce the impact of saidtableware as it moves from said second surface a-s it moves from saidvibrating conveyor.

9. A construction for handling soiled tableware loaded on trays toprovide for sorting of different types of tableware and for delivery ofthe sorted tableware to diswashing equipment, said constructioncomprising a vibrating conveyor defining a bed for receiving thetableware, a separate conveyor for carrying said trays and for therebydelivering tableware to the vicinity of said vibrating conveyor, and atray separation means located between said conveyors for separatingtableware from the trays so that the trays are not moved onto thevibrating conveyor, and including light trash removal means associatedwith said separate conveyor for removing such trash prior to separationof the tableware from the trays, at least one sorting member extendingacross thevibrating conveyor bed for engaging a portion of the tablewareand for directing this portion along a specific path defined by the bed,water delivery and circulating means associated with the construction toprovide a flow of water over said bed for contact with the tableware,and means adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor for receivingdifferent types of tableware.

10. A construction in accordance vwith claim 9, wherein said removalmeans comprises a blower adapted to direct an air stream into contactwith loaded trays.

11. A construction for handling soiled tableware loaded on trays toprovide for sorting of different types of tableware and for delivery ofthe sorted tableware to dish- `washing equipment, said constructioncomprising a vibrating conveyor defining a bed for receiving thetableware, a separate conveyor for carrying said trays and for therebydelivering tableware to the vicinity of said vibrating conveyor, and atray separation means located between said conveyors for separatingtableware from the trays so that the trays are not moved onto thevibrating conveyor, and including a gap in said separate conveyor priorto the point of separation of tableware from trays, and whereintableware items not on a tray fall through the gap and are not carriedto the point of separation of the tableware and trays, at least onelsorting member eX- tending across the vibrating conveyor bed forengaging a portion of the tableware and for directing this portion alonga specic path defined by the bed, water delivery and circulating meansassociated with the construction to provide a ow of water over said bedfor contact with the tableware, and means adjacent the discharge end ofthe conveyor for receiving different types of tableware.

12. In a construction for handling soiled tableware to provide forsorting of different types of tableware including silverware andilatware and for delivery of the -sorted tableware to dishwashingequipment, the improvement wherein said construction comprises avibrating conveyor defining a bed for receiving the tableware, waterdelivery and circulating means associated with the construction toprovide a ow of water over said bed for contact with the tableware, andmeans for separating the silverware from other tableware on the bed, theseparating means comprising a ribbed portion defined by said bed, theribs extending longitudinally along the bled, slots defined between theribs dimensioned to permit the passage of silverware therethrough, saidflatware being adapted to move over the bed in Contact with said ribswhile said silverware falls between the ribs and then through said slotsfor collection independently of the other tableware, and means adjacentthe discharge end of the bed for collecting the other tableware.

13. A construction for handling soiled tableware loaded on trays toprovide for sorting of different types of tableware and for delivery ofthe sorted tableware to dishwashing equipment, said constructioncomprising a vibrating conveyor delining a bed for receiving thetableware, a separate conveyor for carrying said trays and for therebydelivering tableware to the vicinity of said vibrating conveyor, and atray separation means located between said lconveyors for separatingtableware from the trays so that the trays are not moved onto thevibrating conveyor, and wherein said tray separating means comprises adownwardly inclined surface extending from a point adjacent a side edgeof said separate conveyor downwardly to a point adjacent the vibratingconveyor, a deflector extending at an angle over the top surface of saidseparate conveyor for moving trays onto said inclined surface, abutmentmeans extending upwardly from said inclined surface for engaging an edgeof each tray to prevent movement of the trays onto said vibratingconveyor, and wherein said tableware is discharged from the trays whilethey are held in an inclined position on said inclined surface, at leastone sorting member extending across the vibrating conveyor bed forengaging a portion of the tableware and for directing this portion alonga specific path defined by the bed, water delivery and circulating meansassociated -with the construction to provide a flow of water over saidbed for contact with the tableware, and means adjacent the discharge endof the conveyor for receiving different types of tableware.

14. A construction in accordance with claim 13, wherein said inclinedsurface is attached to said vibrating con veyor whereby said trays aremoved along the inclined surface for discharge of the trays at the endof the nclined surface.

1S. A construction for handling silverware comprising a vibrating bed, aplurality of ridges situated in spaced apart relationship across saidbed, a plurality of depressions formed between said ridges, slotsdefined at the bottom of said depressions, said slots being dimensionedto permit the passage of silverware therethrough, means positionedbeneath said bed for receiving the silverware and for delivering thesilverware to holding means, means for applying water to the silverwareon the bed, and additional openings dened by the bed for draining thewater.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1962 Nowak 209--99 12/1969Pinckard 134-62 RICHARD A. SCHACHER, Primary Examiner

